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If you don’t like cleaning your gutters on a regular basis, gutter guards can be a viable solution. In this guide, we discuss the different types of gutter guards available, as well as how much each type costs to install, to help you decide if it’s worth installing.
What Is The Best Gutter Cover
Your gutters are important when it comes to protecting your home’s roof, siding, foundation and landscape from the effects of rainfall. However, gutters can be a pain to clean, especially if surrounded by heavy landscaping with trees. Leaves, sticks, pine needles and other debris can easily clog gutters, negating their protective function and sending water spilling over the edge.
A M Gutter Guard
Gutter guards, also called sheet guards, prevent debris from entering your gutters and make the cleaning process a little easier. In this guide, we’ll discuss the most common types of gutters and how much you can expect to pay for each to help you find the best gutter guards for your home.
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While many people think that installing gutter guards is a free pass to never cleaning their gutters again, this is a misconception. Gutter guards block most debris, but no device will ever completely prevent debris from entering your gutters.
Gutter protection materials are usually priced by the linear foot, and the average home has about 200 feet of gutters. See how much protective gutters cost to install, by type:
To save money, you can install most types of gutter guards yourself. However, if your home is two stories or taller or you have a steep roof, consider paying a professional to complete your gutter guard installation.
Note: This is the average cost to install a gutter guard. Material prices and installation costs may vary by location. Ask for a few quotes from roofing contractors and general builders in your area to compare prices.
Why Gutter Guards Are Bad — Clean Break Home Services
Full service companies offer high quality gutter guards that are professionally installed. These products are often high-performance (like micro-mesh and reverse-curve), made with durable materials, and backed by warranties that go beyond DIY gutter guards.
The best gutter guard providers, such as LeafFilter, HomeCraft, and Gutter Guards America, do not offer pricing information online or over the phone. Because every facility is different, they require a free personal evaluation to understand the variables they are dealing with.
From the width of your gutters to your current climate, here are key factors to consider before installing gutter guards:
The more gutter protection materials you need to equip your home with, the more the job will cost. You’ll pay more for extra linear feet of raw materials and extra labor costs for the extra time it takes to install.
Pros & Cons Of Gutter Screening
Additionally, measure your gutters before purchasing guards. Most gutters are 5 inches wide, but some homes may have 4 or 6 inch gutters. It will cost extra to install protective gutters on unusually sized gutters.
Gutter guard installation costs more if you have complex gutter runs with corner corners or long roof lines that require workers to frequently move ladders. Installing gutters on simple, straight and short gutter runs is cheaper. The angle of your roof also plays into your final bill. If they are too steep, installers will require additional safety equipment, inflating the overall labor time and cost.
Do you have a tree that you want to cut down for a few seasons? Well, this tree and any other obstacles in the work area will increase the cost of the work. Obstacles can also be on the ground. Complex landscaping, water features, or uneven terrain can limit the safe placement of the ladder. If your installer needs to obtain specialized tools or equipment to complete the job, this will be reflected in the cost of gutter guard installation.
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High-rise buildings are more difficult and dangerous to work on. Expect higher costs for gutter guard installations that span two or more floors.
Best Micro Mesh Gutter Guards
The cost of installing a gutter guard varies depending on where you call home. The local climate and types of common debris affect the type of gutter guard you should choose and thus the cost of installation. For example, flimsy plastic mesh guards are probably not the best choice for snow and ice areas, and brush guards won’t stop fine debris like pebble grit and pollen. Additionally, typical labor costs in your area will determine your final price.
Most gutter guards are made of plastic, metal, or a combination of the two. They either sit on top of the gutter or rest in it. Here are some common types of gutter guards.
The cheapest gutter guards are made of PVC plastic and the quality is reflected in the price. Typically, you will purchase the material in rolls that are the approximate width of your gutter and cut them prior to installation. This makes it a fairly easy DIY project since you simply place the screen over the gutter and tuck the edges under the eaves.
These gutter guards hold up pretty well against leaves and pine needles, but unfortunately, they can easily inflate or dislodge. Additionally, plastic can become brittle or warp in extreme temperatures. On average, plastic bumpers only last three to six years.
Do Gutter Guards Increase Home Value?
Another affordable gutter protection material is aluminum foil perforated with small holes. This guard is also relatively easy to install and attaches to your gutters either with included clips or by bending the ends to fit around the gutter. You’ll need a hacksaw, pieces of tin, and gloves to safely maneuver the bumper around the sharp edges of your gutter.
Aluminum gutter guards block most debris and won’t rust. They usually last from 10 to 20 years. However, when seeds or other small debris get into your gutters, you’ll find that these guards are difficult to remove for cleaning.
Steel mesh gutter guards are similar to plastic guards, but are more durable and robust. They are just as easy to install as plastic guards, although you will need to use tins to attach the gutter guard to your gutter. Steel screen gutter guards are ideal for blocking leaves and pine needles and are relatively easy to clean—just wait for the collected debris to dry and remove. On average, steel bumpers last between seven and 10 years.
However, not all steel screen guards are created equal. Make sure you buy a powder coated metal guard as this will repel rust and avoid the type of steel guard that is attached by placing under the first layer of shingles which will expose your roof deck to the rain and could void your roof’s warranty.
Best Gutter Guards [uk] That Really Stop Leaves And Debris Block Your Gutter » Shetland’s Garden Tool Box
While screens and mesh guards sit over a gutter to prevent debris from falling, foam gutter guards sit inside the gutter, making them one of the easiest types of gutter guards to install. These polyurethane foam wedges are porous enough to allow water to flow through the gutter and down the spout, but leaves and other debris remain on top of the foam and slide off.
Unfortunately, even polyurethane breaks down over time, sending microplastics into runoff and groundwater. Additionally, algae and fungi can grow on the foam, making it unsightly and smelly, so you should remove the foam and wash it from time to time. While these foam inserts can last up to 10 years, they won’t last nearly as long in humid or sunny climates.
These gutter guards are made of plastic, steel or aluminum and are more expensive than other mesh guards due to the fineness of the mesh. Micro-mesh bumpers have smaller holes, which keep debris out, but smaller holes can block more easily. Because of this, micro-mesh screens are a good choice for homes in humid climates surrounded by large, leafy trees.
The price and durability of these bumpers varies depending on the material. Plastic will be the least expensive, but it can only last for three years. Powder-coated metal can last up to 12 years, but is more expensive than plastic micro-mesh guards.
Do I Need To Clean My Gutters If They Have Guards On Them?
Similar to foam gutter guards, the brushes sit inside the gutters and block the flow of debris. These are metal rods with nylon or plastic bristles attached at all corners, just like a circular brush. They are very easy to fit, although you will need to cut them with a hacksaw if they are too far. They are durable, lasting 10 to 20 years, but they are also quite expensive.
While brush guards protect against large debris and dry leaves, seeds and pine needles can stick to the bristles, making them difficult to clean. Maybe you have
